Today we’d like to introduce you to Dean Miller.
Hi Dean, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I started Dean Miller Surf in May of 1999 when I was finishing graduate school with one simple goal — to bring the feeling of a beach day home. At the time, I was living in Laguna Beach, surfing and studying all day, and I wanted my bedroom space to feel like a surfer’s room. Back then there wasn’t any bedding for young guys, specifically surfers.
I couldn’t find anything that matched that surfer vibe, so I began designing my own fabrics — bold hibiscus prints, vintage surfboard patterns, and island florals that reminded me of Maui mornings and Baja sunsets. What started as a side project in a spare bedroom quickly turned into a small business with one clear mission: to make home décor that actually feels like the surf and beach lifestyle we love.
Over the years, Dean Miller Surf Bedding grew from a handful of bedding sets into a full line of coastal fabrics, quilts, and home goods. We’ve stayed true to those early roots — small-batch production, quality materials, and designs inspired by Hawaii, and surf culture.
Even after all these years, that original idea still drives everything we make: when you walk into your home, you should feel the same peace you get watching the last wave of the day roll in. That’s the Dean Miller way.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Has it been smooth? Not at all — but that’s what makes it worth it.
When I first started, I had no background in textiles, manufacturing, or e-commerce. I was a surfer with an idea and a lot of trial and error ahead of me. Figuring out how to get fabrics printed, stitched, and shipped was a crash course in everything from design to logistics. There were years when I was doing it all — designing prints at night, packing orders in the morning, and answering customer emails in between.
Then came the challenges every small business faces — keeping production costs down without sacrificing quality, finding partners who understood the laid-back but high-standard vibe we wanted, and riding out the ups and downs of retail seasons. The 2008 recession hit hard, and later, the shift to online-only retail forced us to rethink how we reached our audience.
But through it all, the surf community and our loyal customers kept us going. Every message from someone who said our bedding reminded them of their honeymoon in Hawaii or their first surf trip made all the long nights worth it. The road hasn’t been smooth, but it’s been real — and it’s shaped us into a stronger, more grounded brand that still believes in chasing waves and good design.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Dean Miller Surf Bedding is all about bringing the surf / beach lifestyle indoors. We design and produce tropical, coastal-inspired fabrics, bedding, and home goods that capture the laid-back spirit of surf culture. Think bold hibiscus prints, hand-drawn surfboards, and sun-faded island colors — all meant to make your home feel like you just stepped off the sand.
What really sets us apart is that we’re not just a design house — we live this lifestyle. Our prints come from real experiences on the water, from the waves of Hawaii to the shores of Southern California. Every pattern starts as a sketch or photograph inspired by those moments, then becomes a textile that carries that same energy.
We specialize in small-batch production because quality and authenticity matter. Our fabrics aren’t mass-produced — they’re made with care, often in limited runs, so every piece feels like part of a story. Whether it’s bedding for a surf shack or upholstery for a coastal home, we want our products to spark memories of warm air, salt water, and good times.
Brand-wise, I’m most proud that we’ve stayed true to who we are. We’ve been through decades of changing trends, and while the world moved toward minimalism and gray tones, we kept celebrating color, texture, and life. Our customers tell us our designs make them feel something — and that’s the best compliment a brand could ever get. I love it when a customer tells me they are buying Dean Miller for their child because that is what they grew up with.
Any big plans?
It’s a little tricky right now with the Trump Tariffs in effect, so I’m hoping either textile printing comes back to the US in an affordable way for everyone, or obviously the tariffs get lifted so we can produce goods at a fair price for our customers. We’re also excited to explore collaborations with local artists and designers who share our passion for the ocean and the lifestyle around it. The idea is to blend their unique perspectives with our design history — creating one-of-a-kind textiles, home pieces, and even limited-edition art prints that tell fresh coastal stories.
Another big focus for us is sustainability. We’re testing eco-friendly fabrics, recycled fibers, and digital print methods that reduce waste and water use — because loving the beach also means protecting it.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.deanmillerprints.com
Image Credits
All artwork, and images courtesy of Dean Miller Prints, LLC
